Patent Application
20220135433
The present disclosure generally relates to water filters and, more specifically, a water filter that can be used in multiple different orientations.
Water filters typically are configured to physically remove solid matter or suspended impurities from a stream of water. Some water filters provide whole house filtration, appliance filtration, or filtration of drinking water as it exits a faucet. As such, water filters can be used in various configurations and orientations. For example, a water filter can be inserted into an appliance (such as a refrigerator) such that water passes through the filter prior to exiting the refrigerator via an outlet typically placed on the front. In another example, a water filter may include a connector such that it is connectable to a faucet, and configured to filter water directly as it exits the faucet.
The appended claims define this application. The present disclosure summarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. Other implementations are contemplated in accordance with the techniques described herein, as will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description, and these implementations are intended to be within the scope of this application.
Example embodiments are shown for multi-position water filters. An example of the disclosed multi-position water filter includes a housing defining an internal cavity, the housing comprising: a head including an inlet and an outlet, and a foot positioned opposite the head. The water filter also includes an inner filter assembly positioned in the internal cavity, the inner filter assembly comprising a head cap fluidly connected to the outlet, a foot cap, a filter media connected to the head cap and the foot cap, and an internal tube positioned in the filter media, wherein the internal cavity includes a radially oriented orifice configured to enable air to pass through, but prevent water from passing through.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may be omitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, so as to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, as known in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
While the invention may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
As noted above, water filters can be used in a variety of applications, including large scale water filtering (e.g., whole home filtering), appliance filtering (e.g., a refrigerator or as part of a sink), and/or attached to an outlet of a faucet. In each of these applications, filters are typically designed with a static orientation in mind, such as being limited to either vertical or horizontal orientation, positioning a “head” of the water filter through which water flows in and out above the central axis of the filter.
Typical water filters allow for the water stream to pass through certain filter media to physically remove solid matter or suspended impurities from the stream of water. One problem that arises with typical water filters is the accumulation of air in the filter media and/or inside the housing containing the filter media when a head of the filter is positioned below a central axis of the filter, such as when a filter is installed in a device in an orientation for which it was not designed. The accumulation allows an air pocket to form, which prevents the flow of water through portions of the filter media. This in turn causes a reduction in the flow rate of the filter as well as the operable lifetime of the filter.
Embodiments of the present invention incorporate an orifice in the filter, which enables air flow but restricts water flow, so as to limit the accumulation of air inside the filter, regardless of the orientation of the filter. This enables the filter to be installed and used in multiple positions or orientations while minimizing the issues caused by the accumulation of air.
To address the accumulation of air, a tube is positioned within an inner diameter of the filter media of the water filter. The tube is open at a first end, and connected to the outlet at the second end. The tube includes a radially oriented orifice sized to enable the passage of air, but to prevent the passage of water when operating at a desired operating pressure. The orifice is positioned axially at a position with respect to the tube near the outlet. In this manner, any air pocket that forms is restricted from extending past the orifice (when the orifice is positioned above the open first end of the tube), or is restricted from extending past the first end of the tube (when the orifice is positioned below the open first end of the tube). The water filter can then be installed and operate in either a “head-on-top” orientation or a “head-on-bottom” orientation while negative effects from the accumulation of air are minimized.
The housing 200 includes a head 210 and a foot 220. In some examples, the housing is generally circular or cylindrical.
The housing 100 defines an internal cavity 250, into which unfiltered water flows. The internal cavity 250 extends the length of the housing 200 between the head 210 and the foot 220.
Head 210 includes a lip 212 configured to assist with installation, for example, into an appliance. The lip 212 extends beyond an outer radius of the body 214 of the housing 200, as shown in
The head 210 includes an inlet 230 and an outlet 240. The inlet 230 is configured to enable unfiltered water to flow into the inner cavity 250 of the housing 200. The unfiltered water is then filtered by the filter media as noted below. After being filtered, the water then flows out of the outlet 240. In some examples, the inlet 230 and the outlet 240 are axially oriented with respect to the housing 200, such that water flows into and out of the inlet and outlet generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the filter 100. Additionally, the inlet and the outlet are positioned on the same side of the filter 100, as shown in
The inner filter assembly 300 includes a head cap 310, filter media 320, an internal tube 330, and a foot cap 340. The inner filter assembly 310 is configured to take the unfiltered water input into the internal cavity 250 of the housing 200, filter the water by passing it through the filter media 330, and pass the water out of the housing 200 via the outlet 240.
The head cap 310 is attached to the housing 200 and the filter media 330, such that filtered water flows from the internal cavity 250 external to the filter media 330, through the filter media 330, and out the outlet 240 by passing through the head cap 310.
The filter media 320 may be any suitable filter media, including activated carbon, catalytic carbon, KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion), mixed-media, a reverse osmosis membrane, ultra violet light (e.g., UV filtration), activated aluminum, manganese dioxide, and more. The filter media 320 may be shaped to match, or be close to matching the body 214 of the housing 200. In the example shown in
An internal tube 330 is positioned at a center of the filter media 320. The internal tube 330 includes a first end 332 attached to the head cap 310, and a second end 334 extending toward the foot cap 340. The internal tube 330 is hollow, and enables water to flow into the second end 334 and out of the filter 100 via the outlet 240
The internal tube 330 also includes an orifice 336. The orifice 336 extends radially from the internal tube 330. The orifice 336 is positioned proximate the head cap 310. The orifice is sized such that air can flow through, and such that water is prevented from flowing through. The sizing may be such that surface tension prevents water from flowing through, but allows water to pass through. The size of the orifice 336 may be dependent upon the operational pressure of the filter 100. For example, a high pressure filter may include a smaller orifice than a low pressure filter, since higher pressures may alter the surface tension such that water flows through a smaller orifice than it otherwise would.
In operation, the positioning of the orifice 336 near the head cap 310 prevents air from extending past the orifice 336 when the filter 100 is used in a head-on-top orientation, as shown in
The foot cap 340 is attached to the filter media 320 proximate the foot 220 of the housing 200. The foot cap 340 prevents unfiltered water from entering the internal tube 330, or the interior of the filter media 320, without first being filtered through the filter media 320.
In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. Further, the conjunction “or” may be used to convey features that are simultaneously present instead of mutually exclusive alternatives. In other words, the conjunction “or” should be understood to include “and/or”. The terms “includes,” “including,” and “include” are inclusive and have the same scope as “comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprise” respectively.
The above-described embodiments, and particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the techniques described herein. All modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/109,231, filed Nov. 3, 2020, which is fully incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63109231 | Nov 2020 | US |
